Compound support



April 29, 1969 l. s. I EHMAN COMPOUND SUPPORT Sheet Filed July 18, 1968 INVENTOR. /H 5. LEHMHA/ TTORNEX l. S. LEHMAN COMPOUND SUPPORT April 29, 1969 sheet 3 @f2 Filed July 18, 1968 INVENTOR. /PH 5. LEH/WFl/U HTTOANEX United States Patent O 3,441,027 COMPOUND SUPPORT Ira S. Lehman, 1830 NE. 197th Terrace, Miami, Fla. 33162 Filed July 18, 1968, Ser. No. 745,845 Int. Cl. A41c 1/00; A61f 5/02 U.S. Cl. 128--578 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compound support for the human body including (a) a primary wide, fabric, elastic band to snugly encircle the body of a wearer and to provide corrective support and a posture-improving restraint overa wide area of the abdominal region, and (b) a pair of secondary, elastic strip segments each of a length less than one-half of the length of the primary band and with one end of each segment being secured to the primary band at a common zone of attachment to overlay the backbone of a wearer.

This invention relates to a compound support for the human body and includes a primary wide elastic band to encircle the body and a pair of secondary strip segments attached to the portion of the wide band adapted to overlay the spine of the wearer to be stretched outwardly in partial circumposing relation of the wide band and secured intermediate the length of the wide band and medially thereof to apply a secondary tightening force over the midriif of a person flanking the spine and extending forwardly but not to the vertical medium of the abdominal area.

In the treatment of back sprains, to improve posture and appearance, and to provide additional support, it has been known in the past to provide body encircling bands. This invention relates to such a body encircling band and adds additional strip support to partially encircle the wearer and exert controlled pressure on the body tending to pull the hips toward each other and to exert localized pressure in the area of the small of the back and over the space flanking the small of the back between the rib cage and the hip box to reduce movements of that portion of the body in the area of the sacroiliac joint and to add increased support to it. The exertion of continuing controlled pressure on the affected area gives a soothing and comforting effect which reduces pain and yet allows a sufficient degree of movement in the front abdominal area so as not to deleteriously affect breathing movements or to otherwise interfere with locomotion.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a support having a primary wide band to overlay the space between the rib cage and the hip box to exert a primary restraining force and a pair of secondary elastic segments secured at one end to the zone of the primary band which overlays the spine and which are adapted to be stretched and extended over the primary band with the distal ends being secured thereto to exert a localized controlling pressure on the fat accumulation on the sides of the body flanking the small of the back.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compound, readily-adjustable support having a wide primary band and a pair of auxiliary secondary elastic strips carried by the primary band and adapted to be releasably secured to the primary band by pressure-responsive, pull release connecting means of the Velcro type wherein a multiplicity of hooks of nylon or equivalent material carried by one member are adapted for hooked-up engagement with loops of soft nap on the other member and to be released therefrom by exerting a pull or a yank to readily separate and adjust the position of the members with respect to one another.

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It is another object of this invention to provide an improved, adjustable, inexpensively-constructed, elastic compound support for the human body which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is well adapted to improve posture, lend additional support to sagging abdominal muscles, and to provide a comforting effect to reduce pain from back sprains in the lumbar area and in the area of the sacroiliac joint.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved compound support which provides for a first range of body encircling band-type support and a second increased support of the midriff portion of the body flanking the lumbar region of the back which conforms to the compound curves of the low back region of the body obviating the desirability or need for a pad between the support and the low back area.

It is another object of this invention to provide for a supportive body encircling band, a pair of strips, each to be stretched from a point of connection at the portion overlaying the center of the back to a connection overlaying the band on the anterior sides of the body, so as to embrace from the rear frontwardly in circumposed relation of the primary band, the back, and the sides of the body to selectively reinforce the low back area in combination with the side flanking portions between the rib cage and the hip box.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of my improved compound support in an outstretched condition, and viewed from the inside, or the side closest to a wearer;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 viewed from the outside;

FIGURE 3 is a section View taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and comprises a fragmentary, enlarged view of the central portion of the support illustrated in that figure;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation view illustrating the primary wide band of the compound support in body encircling relation on a wearer;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of the wearer with the belt in the condition seen in FIGURE 5 and illustrating the secondary elastic strip segments hooked together in an out-of-the-way position;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are Views similar to FIGURES 5 and 6 showing the secondary elastic strips being stretched in opposite directions and wrapped forwardly and inwardly about the primary band exerting increased localized pressure over the medi-al longitudinal surface of the primary band extending from the lumbar region around the sides of the body; and

FIGURES 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGURES 7 and 8 and illustrate the second elastic strips in an extended position and detachably secured to the sides of the primary band, with the compound support in the condition for use.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the various views, and referring particularly to FIGURES l to 4, the support includes a primary broad band 4 adapted to be wrapped -about the body of a wearer in spanning relation of the space between the hip box and the rib cage. A pair of secondary elastic strips 6 and 8, each having one end secured to the primary band 4, is adapted to be stretched to an extended position and detachably secured to the primary band to exert localized pressure on the body of a wearer in the lumbar region 3 and in the rear quarter areas flanking that region about the sacroiliac joint.

The primary band is composed of several portions. Two laterally-spaced fabric elastic panels and 12 form the rear portion or, as it will be termed, the attachment zone, of the improved support. The panels 10 and 12 are substantially non-stretchable in the vertical direction, illustrated by the arrows 14, and are preferably slightly stretchable in the horizontal direction illustrated by the arrow 16. The panels 10 and 12 are preferably formed by folding and stitching a single sheet of material to provide three rows of vertically-disposed stitches 13, and 17 to provide two vertically-extending pockets or grooves 18 and 20 closely spaced to each other and on opposite sides of the central vertical row of stitches 15 for the reception of stays or rigidifying ribs 22 and 24. The primary band also includes a pair of belt elements extending outwardly from the zone of attachment on opposite sides of the panels 10 and 12. Each of the belt elements is composed of an elastic fabric length folded upon itself to define strips 26 and 28 on the left side of the zone of attachment and the strips 30 and 32 on the righthand side. These strips 26 and 28, and 30 and 32, are slightly wider than one-half the height of the zone of lattachment or the panels 10 and 12 in the vertical direction 14 so that there is an overlapping area 36 and 34 on the left and on the right-hand sides of the central panels 10 and 12, extending to the terminal end of each of the belt elements tand appearing in FIGURE l as a truncated isosceles triangularly-shaped area. The pairs of strips 26 and 28 on the left extend outwardly from the panel 10 and the strips 30 and 32 on the right extend outwardly from the panel 12, with the longitudinal edges converging in the manner shown and terminating at terminal ends 38 and 40 of the belt elements which are substantially the same height as the width of one of the strips, which height is substantial, in the order of 3 to 6 inches, so as to overlay a wide portion of the abdominal area. As will be noted in FIGURE 3, for instance, the support is preferably formed by using a Single folded strip of material for each of the belt elements with the terminal ends being defined by the fold line and, thus, being of a double thickness, while the proximal end of each of the belt elements are stitched or otherwise suitably secured to the opposite vertical marginal edges of the zone of attachment, that is, the panels 10 and 12. In the preferred embodiment, the connections of the proximal ends of the belt elements with the zone of attachment includes vertically-extending reinforcing strips 42 and 44 and reinforcing seam lines. The reinforcing strips co-operate with the panels 10 and 12 to provide vertically-extending grooves or pockets 46 and 48 for the reception of additional rigidifying ribs or stays 50 and 52. Fastening means are provided to secure the terminal ends of the belt elements of the primary band such as pressureresponsive material on the terminal ends 38 and 40 of the type known in the trade as Velcro which is particularly desirable so as to permit a wide range of adjustability and easy operation. This type of pressure responsive fastener is of the type composed of two co-operable, at fabric surfaces, one of which is provided with a plurality of loops of soft nap material 54 carried, for example, by the terminal end 40 Iand adapted to be engaged by a multiplicity of hook members or projections 56 formed of nylon or other suitable material and carried by the other of the co-operable members, such as on the end 38.

The secondary pair of elastic strip segments 6 and 8 are fully illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 6 through 10. Each of the segments is composed of a folded length of elastic strip material. Referring to the segment 6, it is seen to comprise a folded length of two portions 58, 60, with the fold 61 being at the distal end of the strip segment and with the segment being secured to the panel 10 at the proximal end, so that the strip segment extends outwardly therefrom with the outermost longitudinal edges 63 and 65 converging toward the free distal end 61 and the inner longitudinal edges overlapping and defining a truncated isosceles triangular portion of double thickness. The -secondary elastic strip 8 is simil-ar to that designated by the numeral 6 and includes similar portions 62 and 64 similarly secured to the panel 12 and having a folded distal end 61' and edges 63 and 65'. In the construction of the improved support, the strip segments or partial bands 6 and 8 are preferably formed by folding over on a bias angle a single relatively narrow length and stitching the free ends, that is, the proximal end of the strip segments, into the appropriate row of stitching 13 or 17 in the middle of the panels 10 and 12, that is, in the zone of attachment, shown in FIGURES 2 and 8.

The outer or distal ends 6l and 61 of the converging secondary strip segments 6 and 8 on opposite sides of the support are provided with a patch 69 or 71 of a fastening means, preferably of the Velcro type wherein a multiplicity of hooks of nylon or equivalent material are adapted to overlap and hookingly engage the soft nap material of a companion patch portion 72 or 73 respectively secured to the belt element of the primary band at a dist-ance from the zone of attachment along the band length which is greater than the normal length of the strip segments. The end of one of the secondary strip segments, such as 6, may be provided with a small patch of soft nap material 74 to penmit temporary securement with the hooks of the patch on the end of the other strip segment 8, for out-of-the-way storage while the main band is being placed about the body, in the manner shown in FIGURE 6.

In use or operation of the improved support, the primary band is secu-red over the wearers body as illustrated in FIGURE 5. In applying the support to a wearers body, the zone of attachment, that is, the area of the panels 10 and 12 of the primary band 4, is positioned at the back of the wearers body as illustrated in FIGURES 6, 8 and 10. The elastic fabric belt elements on the left side and on the right side are then wrapped in body encircling relation about the body in such a manner that the upper longitudinal edges of the belt elements overlay the lower edge of the rib cage and the lower longitudinal edges of the belt elements overlay the hip box of the wearer. The length of the primary band is sized so as to snuggly yet comfortably encircle the body exerting a desired degree of tension in the areas of the lumbar region about the sacroiliac joint and over the abdominal area while at the same time permitting the use of the abdominal muscles in breathing. The broad band is secured in place by an engaging tab having the looped projections 56 carried by the strips 26 and 28 of the one belt element with the soft nap surface 54 carried by the strips 30 and 32 of the other belt element, whereupon a desired degree of restraining force may be exerted over the Iabdominal area. The pad 54 is elongated so as to be longer than that of the portion 56 with the result that a range of adjustment of the prima-ry band may be achieved at the option of the user to secure maximum comfort within the belt size. The support is then in the position illustra-ted in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The secondary elastic strip segments 6 and 8 are then separated from the temporary position shown in FIGURE 6 by merely yanking them apart while the relatively small area of the patch 74 permits of this with little effort. The strip segments or secondary strips are stretched outwardly as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 and then wrapped forwardly and inwardly in embracing relation about the primary band to exert an increased degree of pressure of adjustment or force over the midriff of the body in the central spine-flanking rearward portion of the broad primary band. The patches 69 and 71 on the ends 61 and 61' are then engaged with the co-operating soft nap surfaces 71 and 73 to secure the ends of the secondary tightening strip segments A6 and 8 to the primary broad band 4. It will be apparent that the positioning of the material of the pads 71 and 73 is spaced from the attachment zone a distance such -that the area for use will require stretching of the strip segments. The patche-s 71 and 73 are horizontally elongated with the anteriormost ends of the pads being Vspaced from each other and with each overlaying a central zone of the anterior pelvic girdle area and extending between the center line of the front of the torso and the sagittal body plane, the elongation permitting a range of adjustment or stretch of the distal end of the strip. segments. To remove the support the wearer merely grasps the ends 61 and 61 of the secondary strips 6 and 8 and pulls or yanks them to withdraw the nylon or equivalent plastic hooks from the soft nap material of the patches 71 Iand 73 respectively. If desired, the secondary strips 6 and 8 may be hooked together as illustrated in'FIGURE 6 to prevent them from moving relative to the primary band. The primary band may then be removed by grasping the tab 56 having the looped projections and pulling or yanking it to withdraw the plastic hooks from the soft nap material 54. In the preferred embodiment, the tab 56 extends outwardly over the termin-al end of the belt element to provide a thin keeper '57 when in engagement with the soft nap material S4 to protectively overlay the relatively thick end of the other belt element to resist peeling the mutually inter-engaging means of the patches. Because the outermost portion 57 is of reduced thickness relative to that of the band thickness, it protectively overlays the relatively sharp corner and resists peeling which might otherwise tend to initiate separation of the ends of the primary band.` i

While the instant invention has been :shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any Iand all equivalent apparatus and articles.

'What is claimed is:

1. A compound support for a human body comprising:

(A) a primary fabric elastic band,

(a) of a length sized to comfortably and snuggly encircle the body of a wearer lto lend increased support to the lumbar area of the sacrciliac joint and to provide increased abdominal support while permitting limited movement of the abdominal area in response to breathing and (b) of a width sized to vertically span the space between the hip box and the rib cage with the longitudinal marginal edge of the band overlapping the marginal edge of the rib cage and the hip box; and

`(B) a secondary pair of elastic strips each having a proximal end and a distal end and being of a length less than one-half the length of said band and of a width less than that of the distance across the span between the hip box and rib cage, each of said strips extending from a relatively wide proximal end to a relatively narrow distal end,

(C) means securing each of said proximal ends to a zone of attachment on said band with said proximal ends in adjacent relation, said zone being adapted to overlay the spine of a wearer and with each of the strips being adapted to extend outwardly and to overlay a length of said band on either side of said zone; and

('D) mutually inter-engaging means (a) on the distal end of each of said strips, and (b) on the band to secure said strips medially along and over a length of said band on either side of said zone, (c) -said engaging means on said band being spaced on both sides of said zone a peripheral distance which is greater than the normal length of said strips,

(E) so that when the band is in snug encircling position Ion a wearer, the distal ends of the strips may be longitudinally stretched in opposite directions away from the zone and the strips wrapped in stretched condition forwardly and inwardly in overlaying relation of that portion of the primary band which overlays the fat accumulation on each side of the 'body between the hip box and the rib cage to mutually inter-engage said means on the distal ends of said strips and the band with the strips reinforcing the primary band and providing corrective support and posture improving restraint in the lumbar and sacroiliac joint areas and the side areas of the body.

'2. A compound support for the human body as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mutually inter-engaging means on said band includes a plurality of connecting means to engage the mutually inter-engagaing means of the distal end -of each of sai-d str-ips so that the stretched length of said strips may be varied.

3. The support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mutually inter-engaging means on the distal end of each of said strips and on Ithe band comprises:

(A) 'a pair of soft nap loops constituting keeper means arranged medially on the exterior surface of said Iband, one of said pads being spaced on each side of said zone at a distance greater than the normal length of said strips and less than one-half the circumferential length of said band, and

(B) la companionate array of hook means on the surface of the distal end of each strip which confronts the band when in overlaying relation, said hook means comprising a pattern of outwardly projecting, commonly oriented, hook members in upstand- Iing relation adapted in response to pressure against said pad to inter-mesh with said loops and releasably cling to the nap of said pads to be separated therefrom in response to a quick yanking force,

whereby when the elastic strips are stretched longitudinally from the zone of attachment and wrapped inwardly and forwardly about the body of a wearer, said hook means are adapted for hooked-up engagement with said nap loops.

4. The compound support as -set forth in cla-im 1 wherein said primary band includes said zone of attachment to overlay the lumbar area of the sacroiliac joint and an extending belt element on each side of said zone to encircle the body and overlay a wide area of the abdominal region, and means on the terminal ends of said belt elements to secure the primary band about the body.

5. The improvement as set forth in claim 4 wherein said belt elements are tapered defining longitudinal edges which converge from said zone to said terminal ends.

6. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said zone of attachment comprises a panel adapted to overlay the lumbar area of the back and includes a plurality of vertically extending rigidifying ribs.

7. The improvement as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said belt elements is composed of a length of elastic material of a width greater than one-half the height of said attachment zone, said length being twice as long as the main length `of said belt element and said length being folded back upon itself to define said element with said fold line defining the terminal end and with said folded length overlapping itself so that the longitudinal edges of the belt element diverge from said fold line toward the juncture of ysaid belt element with said zone of attachment.

8. The support as set forth in claim 3 wherein the terminal ends of said belt elements are provided with mutually inter-engaging means of the type set forth in claim 3.

9. The support as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mutually inter-engaging means on the terminal ends of said belt element extend outwardly therefrom defining tab ends so that when the terminal ends of the belt elements are n hooked up relation the tab may be secured to the adjacent primary band portion `to resist initial peeling tending to separate said terminal ends.

10. The improvement as set forth in claim 3 wherein mutually inter-engaging means of the type set forth in claim 3 are provided on `the distal end of each of said strips so that the ends of the strips may be joined together while the primary band is applied in body eneir- 10 cling relation on a wearer to ybe separated for application to the primary band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,104,699 l/l938 ODell 128-78 y2,117,309 5/193'8 Fritsch 12S-78 2,213,669 9/1940 Goodman et al. 128-545 2,219,475 lO/1940 Flaherty 128-78 2,651,037 9/11953 Lewis 12S-578 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. XJR. 12S-78, 547, 558 

